Containers for shaving units

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to containers for shaving units of the kind which comprise a substantially rigid member to which is secured one or more razor blades each having one or more cutting edges, the rigid member providing a guard surface located at a preset spacing from the cutting edge or cutting edges, each shaving unit having means by which the shaving unit can be secured to a holder by which the shaving unit is held during shaving. The container comprises two individual compartments each adapted to accommodate a shaving unit with the cutting edge or edges protected, each compartment having means for retaining the shaving unit therein until it is required for shaving. The compartments are such that the holder can be secured to either shaving unit when that shaving unit is accommodated in its compartment and can remain secured to that shaving unit without the shaving unit being withdrawn from the compartment until required for shaving so that the cutting edge or edges remains protected, withdrawal of a shaving unit secured to the holder, when required for shaving, being effected by a predetermined movement of the holder relative to the container which renders ineffective the means for retaining the shaving unit in the compartment.

United States Patent [191 Gatley [4 1 Oct. 28, 1975 CONTAINERS FOR SHAVING UNITS [75] Inventor: Derrick R. Gatley, Maidenhead,

England [73] Assignee: Wilkinson Sword Limited,

Buchinghamshire, England 22 Filed: Nov. 23, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 418,767

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 24, 1972 United Kingdom 54494/72 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1965 Sooter 30/90 3,760,938 9/1973 Ferrier 30/90 X 3,783,510 1/1974 Dawidowicz 30/40.2

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS v 891,010 9/1953 Germany 206/359 Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith Attorney, Agent, or FirmWolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to containers for shaving units of the kind which comprise a substantially rigid member to which is secured one or more razor blades each having one or more cutting edges, the rigid member providing a guard surface located at a preset spacing from the cutting edge or cutting edges, each shaving unit having means by which the shaving unit can be secured to a holder by which the shaving unit is held during shaving. The container comprises two individual compartments each adapted to accommodate a shaving unit with the cutting edge or edges protected, each compartment having means for retaining the shaving unit therein until it is required for shaving. The compartments are-such that the holder can be secured to either shaving unit when that shaving unit is accommodated in its compartment and can remain secured to that shaving unit without the shaving unit being withdrawn from the compartment until required for shaving so that the cutting edge or edges remains protected, withdrawal. of a shaving unit secured to the holder, when required for shaving, being effected by a predetermined movement of the holder relative to the container which renders ineffective the means for retaining the shaving unit in the compartment.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures U.S. Pawn Oct. 251975 sheetlofz 3,915,300

U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 This invention relates to containers for shaving units. By the term shaving unit is meant a substantially rigid member, generally of plastics material, to which is secured one or more razor blades each having one or more cutting edges, the rigid member providing a guard surface located at a pre-set spacing from the cutting edge or cutting edges. Typical of such shaving units are those illustrated and described in British Pat. No. 1,294,666.

According to the present invention there is provided a container for shaving units, each shaving unit comprising a substantially rigid member to which is secured one or more razor blades each having one or more cutting edges, the rigid member providing a guard surface located at a pre-set spacing from the cutting edge or cutting edges, each shaving unit having means by which the shaving unit can be secured to a holder by which the shaving unit is held during shaving, said container comprising two individual compartments each adapted to accommodate a shaving unit with the cuttingedge or edges of the shaving unit protected, each compartment having means for retaining the shaving unit therein until it is required for shaving, the compartments being such that the holder can be secured to either shaving unit when that shaving unit is accommodated in its compartment and can remain secured to that shaving unit without the shaving unit being withdrawn from the compartment until required for shaving so that the cutting edge or edges remains protected, withdrawal of a shaving unit secured to the holder, when required for shaving, being effected by a predetermined movement t-fis of the holder relative to the container which renders ineffective the means for retaining the shaving unit in the compartment.

Two constructions of container, and the uses to which they can be put, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view from above and one side of the first construction of container,

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the container showing a shaving unit in position,

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view taken along the line III- III in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the container with a shaving unit housed in the container and in engagement with a holder,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the second construction of container,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second construction of container with two shaving units housed in the container, one engaged by a holder, and

FIG. 7 is a similar view to FIG. 6 but showing part only of the holder and with the holder in a position in which a shaving unit held in the holder is partly withdrawn from the container.

For ease of initial understanding of the invention the container will be described in relation to its use as a container of two shaving units of the kind which are commercially available and are described and illustrated in British Pat. No. 1,294,666. In such use one shaving unit 8 is stored in the compartment 10, the shaving unit 8 abutting the intermediate wall 11 with the leading edge of the shaving unit adjacent the closed end 12 of the compartment 10, the cutting edge 8al of the razor blade 8a being adjacent the intermediate wall 11 and facing towards the closed end 12, which thereby prevent the cutting edge from being damaged or from causing damage. Each end of the shaving unit 8 lies under a respective side flange 16, 17. The other shaving unit 9 is stored similarly in the other compartment 13 with its leading edge adjacent the closed end 14 and the cutting edge facing towards this end and adjacent the intermediate wall 1 1. A key 15 in the inner face of each compartment adjacent the closed end engages in the rinsing channel 8d of the respective shaving unit to re-- tain it in the compartment.

The major part of the under-surface of each shaving unit 8, 9 is exposed and because of a projection (not seen) at each end of the shaving unit 8, 9 the rear portion 8b of the upper surface is spaced from the adjacent intermediate wall 11. As shown in FIG. 4 this enables a holder 18 to be moved into engagement with the rear portion of one of the shaving units 8, 9 whilst the container is held between a thumb and forefinger. With continued movement the latch portion 19a of a unitary ejector member 19 in the holder 18 enters an aperture in the under-surface of the shaving unit 8, thereby securing the shaving unit 8 in position between the jaws 18a, 18b of the holder 18.

The shaving unit 8 can then be withdrawn from the container, the shaving unit being held sufficiently strongly so that the engagement of the key 15in the rinsing channel 18d of the shaving unit is overcome.

When the shaving unit is no longer fit for use it can be ejected from the holder 18 by operation of the unitary ejector member 19 in the normal manner, the other shaving unit 9 can be withdrawn from the container in the manner already described and the empty container discarded. Alternatively, the first used shaving unit 8 can be returned to the container and, subsequently, the second shaving unit 9 likewise returned when no longer fit for use. The container with the two used shaving units 8, 9 therein can then be discarded. This avoids the danger of anyone (particularly children) accidentally cutting themselves on the exposed cutting edge of a discarded shaving unit.

Apart from using the container as a protector for used shaving units it may be preferred, particularly when the user is travelling, to re-insert the shaving unit into the container after each shave in order to protect the cutting edge against damage or in order to prevent it causing damage. When the shaving unit is fully home in the container the ejector button 19b is operated to release the holder 18 from engagement with the shaving unit 8. As an alternative the holder 18 can remain in engagement with the shaving unit 8 whilst it is in position in the container so that the holder 18 and container form a unitary item until again required for use. To facilitate drainage of liquid from a re-inserted shaving unit, which could otherwise result in a humid atmosphere conducive to corrosion of the cutting edge, a drainage slot 12a, 14a is provided in each end 12, 14.

It will be appreciated that this unitary item can also be the form in which the holder, container and two shaving units is sold. As an alternative, the container housing a single shaving unit can be sold as an adaptor so that the owner of an existing holder and shaving units can apply it to a holder already carrying a shaving unit to protect the latter for travelling or otherwise.

Conveniently the container may be a plastic moulding with dimensions such that there is sufficient flexibility in the area of the keys to allow engagement and disengagement with the shaving units.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7, these show the second construction of container which has two compartments 20, 21, each for housing a shaving unit 22. The compartments 20, 21 are formed by a central, inclined, dividing wall 23 with top and bottom walls 24, 25, providing flanges 24a, 24b and 25a, 25b which extend over the respective edges of the shaving units 22.

The holder 26 has a track 26a which is brought into engagement with a shaving unit 22 by sliding the track 26a into a longitudinal groove 22a in the rear of the shaving unit, from the left hand end as seen in FIG. 6, into the position shown in FIG. 6. An end stop 27 is provided on the container to engage the end of the track 260 and thereby prevent it going past the far end of the groove 22a. Disengagement of the holder 26 from a shaving unit 22 is by sliding the track 26a relative to the groove 22a in the reverse direction.

To remove a shaving unit 22 the holder 26 is pivoted about the container, as indicated in FIG. 7, the flanges 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b (in this instance flange 24a) being sufficiently flexible to be flexed out of engagement with the adjacent edge of the shaving unit 22.

I claim:

1. The combination comprising a container and two shaving units, each shaving unit comprising a substantially rigid member to which is secured at least one razor blade having at least one cutting edge, said substantially rigid member having an upper surface, an undersurface, a leading edge forming a guard surface located at a pre-set spacing from the cutting edge, a rear edge and two ends, said cutting edge protruding from said upper surface at a pre-set spacing from said guard surface and to the rear thereof, each shaving unit having securing means in its undersurface for securing the shaving unit to a holder by which the shaving unit may be held during shaving, said container comprising a first compartment accomodating a first one of said two shaving units, a second compartment accommodating a second one of said two shaving units, said compartments being located on opposite sides of a common dividing wall, the upper surface of each of said shaving units abutting said common dividing wall, each of said compartments having a further wall extending from said common dividing wall, the leading edge of each of said shaving units abutting the further wall of the respective compartment whereby the cutting edge of the shaving unit accommodated therein is protected, said container being rectangular in elevation and having one compartment located behind the other, each compartment having shaving unit retention means to retain the shaving unit therein until required for use, each compartment having an opening therein for reception of the shaving unit when the shaving unit is presented to the opening with the leading edge of the shaving unit facing the opening, at least that part of the undersurface of ashaving unit which includes said securing means being exposed by said opening when the shaving unit is in the compartment.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the opening for receiving a shaving unit in one compartment faces in the opposite direction to the opening in the other compartment.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said further wall of each compartment has an aperture therein for the escape of liquid from the region of the leading edge of a shaving unit housed therein. 

1. The combination comprising a container and two shaving units, each shaving unit comprising a substantially rigid member to which is secured at least one razor blade having at least one cutting edge, said substantially rigid member having an upper surface, an undersurface, a leading edge forming a guard surface located at a pre-set spacing from the cutting edge, a rear edge and two ends, said cutting edge protruding from said upper surface at a pre-set spacing from said guard surface and to the rear thereof, each shaving unit having securing means in its undersurface for securing the shaving unit to a holder by which the shaving unit may be held during shaving, said container comprising a first compartment accommodating a first one of said two shaving units, a second compartment accommodating a second one of said two shaving units, said compartments being located on opposite sides of a common dividing wall, the upper surface of each of said shaving units abutting said common dividing wall, each of said compartments having a further wall extending from said common dividing wall, the leading edge of each of said shaving units abutting the further wall of the respective compartment whereby the cutting edge of the shaving unit accommodated therein is protected, said container being rectangular in elevation and having one compartment located behind the other, each compartment having shaving unit retention means to retain the shaving unit therein until required for use, each compartment having an opening therein for reception of the shaving unit when the shaving unit is presented to the opening with the leading edge of the shaving unit facing the opening, at least that part of the undersurface of a shaving unit which includes said securing means being exposed by said opening when the shaving unit is in the compartment.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the opening for receiviNg a shaving unit in one compartment faces in the opposite direction to the opening in the other compartment.
 3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said further wall of each compartment has an aperture therein for the escape of liquid from the region of the leading edge of a shaving unit housed therein. 